Transposing mechanism for automatic players.



Ey SWANSON.

TRANSPGSING MECHANRSM FOR AUTOMATIC PLAYERS.

APPLmATmN mw luLv 31,1914.

1 1 79,677. Patented Apr. 18, w15.

2 SHEETS- SHEY I? Z SWANSN.

wmmosm www Fem Aummmzc PLAYERS,

Qq. ILE ULY 31. NH4. 1,179,677* Paients Apr. i,

by the securing sciie'xs, c. The roll carriage UNITED STATES PATENT onirica.

EMIL SWANSON, OF STEGER, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 STEGER & SONS PIANO MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF STEGER., ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRANSPOSING MECHANISM FOB AUTOHIATIC PLAYERS.

Application led July 3l,

To all whom it may concerny Bc it known that I, EMIL Swnxsox, a citizen of the United States. residing at Steger, in the county of Will and `State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvementsi in '.l`ransposinf1r Mechanism for Automaticy Players, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accomv panving drawings, forming a part thereoff The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of the tracker and roll carriage of an automatic piano player mechanism, adapted for the purpose of transposing the music.

It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, as indicated in the claims.

ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a structure embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a section at the line Q-2, on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section at the line 3--3, on Fig. Fig. 4 is a section at the line l-, on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section at the line, 5-5, on Fig. 4.

.The structure shown in the drawings c0mprises a tracker box, A, which is adapted to be mounted in any usual manner upon any convenient support iu the piano casing, as, for example, upon the transversely-extending support board, X,.which may be supported upon the piano casing at ends and any intermediate points by blocks or brackets, not shown. rPhe tracker bar, B, having the player apertures only,-not including any apertures for controlling stops or automatically modifying the action in any way,-is mounted rigidly upon the tracker box in any convenient manner, as by the bracket member, C, having its extended ends, C, secured to the rear edges of the end boards of the tracker box, and having the arms, C2, intermediate its ends extending forward to reach the rear face of the tracker bar, and at their forward ends turned inward for attachment to the back Side of the tracker bar at the ends thereof, as shown comprisesvflat metal end baits, D, D1, and longitudinal members, D2 and D3, connect` ing the corresponding ends of the end bars so as to form a four-square rigid frame.

These longitudinal members preferably comprise rods, d2, d2, and spacing tubes,

5, D* and D, on the rods between the end bars, D and D1, said end bars being clamped Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916. 1914. serial 310.8511329/ tightly against the ends of the spacing tubes by nuts, The end bars, D and Dl, are accommodated in the channels, a, formed on the inner faces of the end boards, A1 and A, ot the box, and thel length of the spacing tubes, D4, D, of the longitudinal members of the roll carriage is such with respect to the length of the tracker box that the end bars, D, D1, can play in the grooves, a., substantially lthe full depth of the grooverd that is to say, the roll carriage can be moved longitudinally with respect tothe vtracker lbox for a distance at least equal to the depth of the said grooves, a. The rods, (Z2, of the longitudinal members of the roll carriage extend through the right hand end board of the tracker box and are additionally connected together by a right hand end bar, D5, which is spaced from the. bar, D1, by spacing tubes, de, on the rods, d2, between said two bars, or more exactly speaking, between the bar, D5, and the nuts, d3, ,which are bound against the outer side of the bar, D1. Similar binding nuts, df, are applied upon the outer threaded ends of the rod, d, to clamp the outer bar, D5, against the ends of the spacing tubes, d, The roll driving train comprises shafts and wheels supported on the bars, Dl and D5, and requiring no particular description except for certain preferentialeatures hereinafter mentioned. The motor which may beany customary form of air motor, conveniently represented at E, is mounted upon the supporting bar, X, at the right hand end of the tracker box and roll carriage having its driving sprocket Wheel, F, substantially in the plane of the initial sprocket wheel, F1, of the roll driving train, said two` sprocket wheels being connected by a chain in the customary manner which permits lateral adjustment of the driven Wheel with respect to the driving wheel to considerable extent without interfering with the transmission of motion from the driving to the driven wheel. Y

The roll carriage has a forked arm, G, extending forward from vits Lletbhand end bar, D, engaging the the shank of an adjusting thumb screw, H,

f which has its said shank mounted for rotaduced portion, '1, threaded for engagement with a bracket,.K, apertured and threaded to rece-ive it, and mounted upon the outer side of said end board, having its threaded end portion odset from the outer side of the hoard for a distance equal substantially to the lateral play of the bars, D, D1, of the roll carriage in the grooves, a, of the tracker boX. The knurled head, H1, of thisthumb screw stands exposed at the inner side ofthe left hand end of the tracker box just below and in front of the take-up roll, L, where it is in convenient position to be reached by the hand of the operator `for adjusting the roll. carriage right or left by turningI the thumb screw one direction or another.

To the end bars, D and D1, of the roll carriage by brackets, M2, M2 there are secured rigidly for movement with said roll carriage tracker bar terminals, M, M, preferably rigidly connected together and spaced apart by a tie bar, M1, andfwhich are provided with rigidly projecting dowels, m, to receive which the ends of the tracker bar, B are bored so that the said tracker barand tracker har terminals are maintained in perfeet alineme-nt with the range of sliding of the terminals with respect to the bar equal to the range of playof the roll carriage end bars, D, in the ends of thetracker box. These tracker bar terminals, M, are provided with the customary apertures, m1, for connection by the tubes, m2 with pneumatic devices for automatically adjusting the Spool centers to keep the not-esoi.inding'perforations of the note sheet accurately alined with the note-sounding tracker apertures, Mounted upon the roll carriage by means ofthe rigid post, R, are the pneumatic devices for such adjustment comprising rimary vacuum chamber, P, to which, or connection with the primary pneumatics therein (not shown) the tube, m2, leads for controlling the binary motor pneumatics, Q, Q, and the connecting rod, S, from the moving memhere of the binary pneumatics, seid rod extending through and roll carriage bars, D, D1, and D5, to 'the right hand end of the roll carriage lfor connection with the cam or crowding device, S', which operates upon the spindle, T, of the spool live center for adjusting the spool in the manner Well understood. A bracket, lV, bound rigidly to the-post, R, serves support the chamber, P, on the post and thereby on the roll carriage. Binary pneumatics of the seid pneumatic spool adjusting action are mounted on and carried with, the chamber, P.

' The roll driving, train comprises the driven Wheel, F1, on the shaft, f, and on the same shaft a take-up pinion, F1, and rewind sprocket wheel, F2, bath said pinion and 'sprocket wheel being loose for rotation on the shaftl and adapted to be actuated by lshaft which is actuated by and the brake shoe, V2,

the tracker box end boards tracker duct; m11n-the tracker end me1n-k hers 1n a Well understood manner, causes the means of a clutch, F3, which is feathered on the shaft for sliding,T thereon in rotation therewith, and which is shiftuble into engagement with the pinion, F10, or the sprocket wheel F2 by means of the shift lever,v F 4, actuated by the rod, F5, whose operatingl connection is not shown. spool live center spindle, T, there vis mounted rigidly the sprocket wheel, T1, for connection by a driving chain, not shown, with the sprocket wheel, F 2, and on the same spindle there is mounted a brake drum, T2, which is inthe same plane with a brake drum, on the take-up roll shaft, and rigid there with alongside of the main gear, T4, on said A brake bar, V, cally as a brake drum, T2, on its upper side, shoe, V2, for engaging the drum, T3, on its lower side, and on the lower end oi the brake bar it has a foot, V3', which is encountered by a cam arm, J4, which projects from the shift lever, Fi, counter of said'cam arm and cani foot when the shift lever is moved for engaging the clutch, Fa, with the refwind sprocket wheel F2. In such encounter the brake bar is lifter, is bron ht into en gagenient with the brake drum, s, the other brake shoe,` V3, being at the same time lifted out of contact with the brake drum, T2, on the spool spindle. A spring, V4, is preferably provided for thrusting the brake har downwardso as to apply pressure in addi-- tion to that afforded by gravity for engageq ment of the brakeshoe, V1, with the drum, T2, when the brake bar is at the lower position. Both the brake shoes, V1 and V2, are felt covered and' afford silent and suitably mill braking action for playing and re winding. i

When the structure above described is in mounted for sliding verti slice, V1, for engaging the andra brake operation with the perforated note sheets-'fl B, from the spool traveling overthe tracker, to the take-up roll, the opposite marginal edges of the note sheet cooperating with the binary pneumutics, Q, to operate either for thrusting or`forpnlling the rod, S, te canse Ythe cem, S1, either to withdraw from the end of the shiift, E, permitting the spool, W, to yield to the right or to push it to the left as necessary to correct the displacement of the note sheet on the tracker bar. It will be understood that the proper alinemcnt of the perorations of the note sheet with the 'apertures ofthe fixed or main trzi'eker bar member, B, will be obtained initially by ro tat-ing the screw, H, which by its engage ment shown in Figs. 4 and with the forked arm, G, on the Yrollcarriage side har, causes said roll carriage to he moved, horizontall i to the right or left aecordingtc On the in position of en-Y the pinion, F10. l

llo

direction of rotation of the screw. It will be observed also that the same expedient makes it possible for the operator to adjust the roll carriage, and thereby the note sheet, l

'the notc-controlling apertures mounted fixedly with respect to the tracker box; a roll carriage mounted for movement with respect to the tracker box in the direction of the roll axes, and tracker end members mounted rigidlyfwith the roll carriage alined with the main tracker member, and means for adjusting the roll carriage with respect to the tracker box in the direction of length of the racker.

2. In combination with a fixed tracker box; a main tracker member rigid therewith; tracker end members alined with the main tracker member; a roll carriage mounted in the tracker box movable in the direc tion ot the roll axes; means for so moving:r it; tracker end members rigid With the roll carriage alined with the main tracker menr ber` the main tracker member having the tracker mouths for connection with the noteplaying devices. and rigid tubes leading from such mouth; the tracker end members having' mouths for controlling mechanical mljustments; pneumatic adjustment controllingr devices mounted on the roll Carriage, and carried therewith in the movements of the latter. and tubes leading from the tracker end member mouths to said pneumatic devices.

ii. ln combination with a fixed tracker and roll box` a main tracker member rigid therewith: a roll earrlage mounted in the box movable in the direction of the axis of the rolls: tracker end members rigid with the carriage alined with the main raf-ker member at opposite ends thereof; and a har extending alongside the main tracker member and rigidly connecting the tracker end members, and means for adjustim: the roll carriage longitudinally' with respect to the main tracker member.

i Alli 4. In combination with a fixed tracker box; a mam tracker member rigid therewith; a roll carriage mounted in the tracker box movable in the diiection of the roll axes, and means for adjusting it relatively to the tracker box; tracker end members rigid with the roll carriage alined with the main tracker member, and guide pins extending longitudinally from the opposite ends of the main tracker member into the tracker end members to guide them longitudinally and preserve their alinement with the main tracker member 5. In combination with a fixed tracker box; a main tracker member rigid there-- with; a roll and roll-driving-t ain carriage, comprising three parallel bars, and longitw dinal bars connecting them rigidly; means for spacing the parallel bars from each other; the tracker box having vits vertical side members channeled on their inner surfaces, two of the roll carriage bars being positioned in said channels and the third being' positioned entirely outside the box; a roll driving train having its shafts and gears mounted in said carriage between the last mentioned bar and the approximate side of the box, and means mounted on one of the tracker box side members engaging one of the roll carriage side bars, said means being manually operable for adjusting the roll carriage relatively to the tracker box.

(i. In combination with a roll carriage, which is fixed as to vertical position, a rolldriving-train mounted therein, comprising shafts tor rotating the take-up roll and the spool live center; brake drums on said shafts respectively, located in substantially the same vertical plane transverse to the shafts; a. brake bar mounted movably on the roll carriage extending in said plane; brake shoes on said bar at opposite sides rei-spectively of the drums: a reversing lever and a cam bar thereon; the brake bar having ay cam projection positioned for engagement by the cam bar in the reversing' movement of the lever, said cam bar and cam projection being relatively formed to cooperate upon their engagement for shiftiinzr the brake. bar to reverse thix application of the brakes upon the. drum respectively.

ln testimony whereof, lA have hereunto ser, my hand at Steger, Illinois this th day of July, 1914.

EM L WA NSON,

H. l/EHLAN. 

